Holder Under House Judicial Investigation

He should have quit last fall. Now he is going to have to resign and maybe go to jail.
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The House Judiciary Committee is investigating whether Attorney General Eric Holder lied under oath during his May 15 testimony on the Justice Departmentâs (DOJ) surveillance of reporters, an aide close to the matter told The Hill.

The panel is looking at a statement Holder made during a back and forth with Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) about whether the DOJ could prosecute reporters under the Espionage Act of 1917.

âIn regard to potential prosecution of the press for the disclosure of material -- this is not something Iâve ever been involved in, heard of, or would think would be wise policy,â Holder said during the hearing.

However, NBC News reported last week that Holder personally approved a search warrant that labeled Fox News chief Washington correspondent James Rosen a co-conspirator in a national security leaks case.

The panel is investigating whether NBCâs report contradicts Holderâs claim that he had not looked into or been involved with a possible prosecution of the press in a leaks case.

Holderâs testimony at the hearing came before Justiceâs actions against Rosen had become public. The hearing was held after The Associated Press revealed the Department of Justice had secretly subpoenaed its phone records in a separate leaks investigation.

Johnson defended the attorney general, saying Holderâs statement was specific to the line of questioning about the Espionage Act and not meant to pertain to other investigations.

âThe attorney generalâs statement that no journalists have been prosecuted under the Espionage Act during his tenure is accurate,â he told The Hill. âMy point remains that the law as written could be misused. Congress is responsible for protecting the press while giving law enforcement the tools to prosecute officials who leak classified information. I support considering amendments to the Espionage Act and passing the Free Flow of Information Act to refine this balance.â